Housing and training coop for chickens



March 6, 1951 B. J. GASS 2,544,496

HOUSING AND TRAINING COOP FOR CHICKENS Filed Sept. 22, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig! HERA/H430 J 6/755 B. J. GASS HOUSING AND TRAINING COOP FOR CHICKENS Filed Sept. 22, 1947 arch 6, 1951 4 Sheets- Sheet 2 arch 6, 1951 ss 2,544,496

HOUSING AND TRAINING COOP FOR CHICKENS Filed Sept. 22, 1947 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 aim/#420 6453 Patented Mar. 6, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HOUSING AND TRAINING COOP FOR CHICKENS Bernhard J. Gass, Washington, D. 0.

Application September 22, 1947, Serial No. 775,549

4 Claims. 1,

This invention relates to an exerciser housing device for poultry for the purpose of preserving and improving the condition particularly of the smaller muscles, particularly of the toes, legs and wing tips, which are accustomed to a substantial amount of exercise when the bird is in a free state in the course of the normal searching for food and avoidance of enemies in the woods or underbrush.

An object of the invention is to provide an exerciser coop particularly designed to cause the bird, confined in its normal pursuit of food and such forms of exercise as it naturally enjoys, to necessarily assume postures requiring the exercise of the smaller muscles.

A further object of the invention is to provide an exerciser or conditioner coop of simple and improved construction, occupying little space and adapted to be readily knocked down for storage or transportation as desired.

Further objects will more clearly appear in the course of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the novel construction, arrangements and combinations of parts hereinafter more particularly described and claimed.

Four sheets of drawings accompany this specification as part thereof, in which like reference characters indicate like parts throughout.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the framework of the improved conditioner;

Figure 2 is a transverse vertical cross section taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1 of the finished coop;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross section substantially at right angles to that of Figure 2 and taken on line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective showing the details of the, improved horizontally sliding perch;

Figure 5 is an enlarged perspective improved balancing perch;

Figure 6 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the roosting coop;

Figure 7 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective end view of the right hand bottom exercising coop showing a possible mode of attachment of the side panels with respect to any of the coops;

Figure 8 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective similar to Figure 7, but showing the details for inserting the adjustable ceiling and floor panels; and

Figure 9 is an enlarged perspective view of the improved flexible perch.

Referring to the drawings which illustrate one practical embodiment of the present invention, a framework is provided to define a vertically disposed central shaft l having disposed about view of the its ground end a plurality of exerciser coops 2-2 and 3-3, herein shown as arranged in the form of a cross and having additional coops 4 extending from the shaft and spaced above the exerciser coops, in which the fowls can roost and be protected from the weather.

As herein illustrated, the central well is defined by four corner posts 5, which corner posts are associated by transversely extending frame members 1 which are preferably formed with halftogether joints and mortised in suitable slots cut in the vertical posts in accordance with good cabinet making practice. These transverse frame members 1 have their outer ends connected by short posts 6-6 and transverse spaced frame members 9-9. Frame members 8 are disposed perpendicularly with respect to frame members 1, and are spaced a substantially greater distance apart to define coops 3-3 of greater height than coo s 2-2, these frame members being connected at their outer ends by frame posts 15 and end frame members l0. V

The upper or roosting coo s are similarly con structed except that as herein illustrated the up per frame members I l-l I extend the full length of the shaft and aligned coops, whereas the lower side frame members l3 extend only from the shaft posts 5 to the outer coop postsnlz, the frame members being connected at their outer ends by end frame members M-IA and the lower side frame members l3 being connected ad- 'ral tvlof parallel spaced dowels. as illustrated in Fi ure 8, which frame is :slidable throu h a slot 22'. as hereinafter described in conn ction with other coops. A drip pan 22 is prov ded slidable beneath this roo t ng floor in a similar manner.

The ri ht hand low r exerciser compartment 2 is provided witha slidahle fioorpanel. as illustrat d in Fi ure 8, compr sin a frame M which is admitted. through a slot l8 formed in the-lower frame member 9, while the upper frame member 9 is provided with a plurality of parallel spaced slots l! adapted to receive a sheet metal ceiling panel l9 the height of which ceilingpanel above the floor panel 20 can be adjusted by selectively inserting this ceiling panel in one or another of the slots l1. 7

In connection with all of the slidable floor and ceiling panels, rabbeted support strips 26 willbe secured against the inner face of the adjacent frame members, as illustrated in this figure.

Removable andpreferably interchangeable enclosure panels will bemrovided for the sides .and ends of most of these coops, but some of the side panels are preferably made solid with a view to protecting the fowls from wind .in certain ofthe coops.

Preferably, the floor panel of the lower small exerciser coop 2 will be provided,.as.illustrated in Fig. 8, with a floor panel comprising. a frame. supporting a plurality of parallel spaced dowels, and in connection with this floor panel fit isdesirable that the spacing'df these dowels be irregu- Jar, via, oneor more dowels-should be omitted tocreate unequalspaces into which the :bird, unless wvary, will step, and creates --an unnatural mode of .locomotionin the bird, thus exercising unused muscles.

As herein illustrated, the smaller side-exercising' coop 22 will .be provided with open-ren- .closure.panelscomprising frames 32 within which are loosely-secured parallel spaced zdowels 15. .All of..the. dowels in 'both the enclosure 'panelsand the floor panels were used, are preferably loosely -fitted .to their. holes .in the supporting frame with .a .view to .permitting the rattling of the dowels when touched by theabird, as it has been observed that .thebirds .greatlyenj oy making noises, and by leaving the-dowels loose so that they rattle, the birds are encouraged to move and-create .such noises, which .they rapidlylearn to do.

The side .walls..of the higher exerciser :coops .'33 .are preferably .enclosed by solid t-panels .26, while .dow'el panels Mare used for-theend openings of these coops. The tops of .the exerciser compartments .33 are closed .by slidable sheet metal ceilingpanels .28 similar .to the .ceiling ,panels utilized inithe. smaller exercise compartments 2-2.

LThe side walls-.of.thecentralshaftl between the lower tier of exercise compartments-and the upper tierof roosting compartments;.are-enclosed by apluralityof open .dowelframesfl which-extend from the transverse -frame members-L l to the transverse framemembers .I l--.l.l. and from the cross frame..members -.l6.to the cross-frame members .8, these open .panels- :being identified in Figure 2 as panels 35 3111136.

It will be observed that-bythe'form of frame construction described-and illustrated, the passage between each .of the-exerciser'coops andthe -centr.al-shaft,.and between-the central shaft-and each of the roosting .coops .is impeded byadoor sill formed .by the frame members 1,- 8, and '16, over which the .fowl must step .to get from any..of these..compart1nents into the centralshaft.

J It willalso .be observed that. byireasonof the adjustable ceiling .panels .in the exerciser chambers 2-2, the height of these chambers .canbe .adjustably regulated to the height of the fowl to require the bird to assume a crouching position .while moving .in these ,particdlarcoops, whereas "in 'the4exer0iser coops 33 the bird isigiven -a 'substan'tially'greater amounto'f freedom and still further opportunity .for exercise in a .vertical direction while within the shaft or central .com-

partment I.

"Howeventhecentral .compartment l ispreferably constructed of a dimensionnot topermit free flight of the'bird, but sufiicient to ,permit To assist the bird in making this ascent and at the same time to further exercise the toe muscles, a series of assisting devices is provided mently secured, as by a bracket 45, a vertical pedestal 46 having pivoted thereto a perch rod .fiflzpivoted'as at'5ll intermediate its ends and havinthe ends of the rod associated with the pedesta'l' by means-of coil springs 5| adapted to counterbalance and normally maintain the perch rod i9in stable horizontal position. The tension upon the-:perch rod 49 can be varied by using a plurality of spaced hooks 48 positioned on the rod 46 over-which hooks theends .of the springs v5 1 can be selectively attached. Thisperchhloselysimu- .latesa flexible bough and thebird upon lighting upon the perch is required to balanceitself with its wings and foot .muscles to acquire-equilibrium. An inclined ladder. 55-of conventional constructionis provided extending from the ground .and having the .upper endsof its rail members provided with spring clips 56 adapted to engage .adjacentvertical dowels in one of the side dowel panels -of the central shaft.

Substantiallyatmid'height of the central shaft is positioned-a novel slidable perch which comprises .a perch rod .59 having on itsend rollers 58 adapted to slide in a guideway .formed by the mortised supporting rods-51 secured-against the inner'face of the frame members 8-8, asis well 'shown in Figure 2. .Springclips-BD are provided for insertion in the slotway within which the perch rod 59 travels to limit the horizontal movement 'of this rock-which it will be observed is free to both rotate-and slide horizontally, thus inducing considerable wing and toe exercise by the bird in adjusting itself on this perch.

Above this 'slidable perch is .secured. :aflexible perch illustrated in detail in Figure 9, which comprises a bracket 6 I provided with a plurality of spacedorifices .62, the flexible-perch rod itself comprising a core of spring=steel formedadjacent one end with a shoulder 64, and that-end-ofthe rod being threaded to receive a securing nut 65 by means of which'the .bracket .61 is engaged, the steel rod extending :beyond the shoulder 64 in the'opposite direction being .taperedand covered with rubber or some similar suitable ma- .terial. This perch is adapted to flex :in much the same manner-asa small twig, and by changing its vertical position at frequent intervals, requires the bird to exercise considerably in engaging the same in the-course of its ascent to the roosting compartments.

Preferably, vertically-adjustable casters 40 'are provided having thumbscrewclampsfi I-by. means cf which the. height "of. the bottom .of the .framework can be selectively adjusted-above the floor or ground level.

The corner posts of the central shaft are preferably made of alength to extend above the upper transverse framemembers I l-.I.I, for the purpose of supporting a sheet metal roof 4| which is formed -W'ith.sloping .end portions 42,--.end'wa1l .members 43, and side walls 44 which side and end walls give substantial rigidity to this roof same size so as to permit interchange as desired and to suit particular conditions.

Having described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. An exercise coop for fowl comprising framework defining a vertically disposed shaft, a plurality of uniplanar coops surrounding and communicating with said shaft at the bottom thereof, some of said coops having tops adjustable in height with respect to the height of the tops of other coops and a second group of coops spaced above those first mentioned, communicating with said shaft, one of said last mentioned coops having weather-excluding outer walls.

2. An exercise coop for fowl comprising a framework defining a vertically disposed central shaft sufficiently restricted in area to preclude flight of the particular fowl, a plurality of exerciser coops each having a top and floor surrounding and communicating with the shaft at the bottom thereof, the tops of some of said bottom coops being higher above their floors than the tops of others and a plurality of roosting coops communicating with the shaft adjacent the top thereof.

3. An exercise coop for fowl comprising a framework defining a vertically disposed central shaft, a plurality of coops surrounding and communicating with said shaft at the bottom thereof, a plurality of coops communicating with said shaft adjacent the top thereof with removable panels for floors and to constitute the side walls of said shaft and coops each of said panels comprising a frame with a plurality of 6 loosely fitting dowels, said dowels extending transversely of the frames in parallel spaced relationship.

' 4. An exercise coop for fowl comprising a. framework defining a vertically disposed central shaft, a plurality of coops surrounding and communicating with said shaft at the bottom thereof, a plurality of coops communicating with said shaft adjacent the top thereof, said coops and shaft formed with removable floor and side wall panels, said panels each comprising a frame having spaced holes on their inner opposed faces, the holes in the floor frames being irregularly spaced and all of said frames having dowels arranged parallel with each other and with their ends loosely positioned in said holes.

BERNHARD J. GASS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 173,934 Ford Feb. 22, 1876 323,782 Burgert Aug. 4, 1885 1,159,323 Maltby Nov. 2, 1915 1,504,721 Sauv et al Aug. 12, 1924 1,951,550 Little Mar. 20, 1934 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 129,469 Switzerland Dec. 17, 1928 

